Measure M adds $10 to the fees associated with registering a vehicle in the county. The new tax/fee will generate $6.7 million/year for the county. A simple majority vote was required to enact the new tax.

The $10 fee will go into effect in April 2011 and will last for 25 years. San Mateo County already charged a $4 vehicle registration fee. The $4 fee is set to expire in late 2012.[2]

The decision to put the fee hike request on the November ballot was made by the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG). C/CAG is an agency in the county with a 21-member elected board. The agency addresses transportation and air quality issues in the county.

Election results

Use of funds

Measure M funds will be divided in this way:

Half of the money, about $3.2 million, will be given to cities within the county on a pro-rata formula based on population and road miles within the city. Under this formula, Foster City will get about $106,000 each year while the City of San Mateo will get about $375,000 each year.[3]

Regardless of population or road miles, each city will receive a minimum of $75,000.

About $3.2 million will go to services for seniors and people with disabilities provided by Caltrain and SamTrans.

5% will go toward administrative cost.

Allowable uses of the funds received by cities are pavement resurfacing, pothole repair, signs and striping, traffic signals, street sweeping, storm-inlet cleaning and local shuttles.[4]

Opposition

The Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association opposed Measure M. They argued that residents should not have to pay any new fees or taxes during economic hard times.[2]

Text of measure

The question on the ballot:

Measure M: To help maintain neighborhood streets, fix potholes, provide transportation options, improve traffic circulation, provide transit options including senior and disabled services, reduce congestion, reduce water pollution from oil and gas runoff, and provide safe routes to schools, shall the Congestion Management Agency for San Mateo County levy a $10 registration fee, for 25 years, on vehicles registered in San Mateo County, requiring annual audits and all funds be spent for programs and projects in San Mateo County[5]